Hermit Thrush.
Hermit Thrushes arrive early around here, and leave late. I hadn’t seen any since fledgling season—at which point they grow quiet and even more secretive than usual—until today. In our mid-afternoon hike up the hill this glorious fall day (along with about three dozen other people and a half a dozen dogs), I spooked one near the summit, just down over the wooded trail. It perched in the sun and posed, raising and lowering its tail.
Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Hermit Thrushes don’t go very far—mostly just to the southern states. Haven’t heard their ethereal music since spring.
Another first-in-a-while bird today: Dark-eyed Junco. A pair of ’em skittered away from the spruce grove as dog and I snuck through. Otherwise, a bunch more yellow-rumps, and many, many White-throated Sparrows. Today the most abundant species on the hill.
Last night was cold enough for me to run the heat for a little while, but today felt warm in the sun. Tonight, though, I ran the heater for a little while again. A taste of things to come.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Yellow-rumped Warbler
2. White-throated Sparrow**
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
5. Song Sparrow
6. Dark-eyed Junco
7. Eastern Towhee (v)
8. Hermit Thrush
9. Turkey Vulture
10. American Crow*
Elsewhere
11. House Sparrow (v)
12. Blue Jay (v)
13. Herring Gull
14. Mourning Dove
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Blue Hill.
